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New York Urban League Holds Centennial Kick-Off Event at NewYork Historical Society; Debuts “100 Stories of Black New York”

The New York Urban League (NYUL) held their centennial kick-off event “100 Stories of Black New York” on February 20, 2020 at The NewYork Historical Society, coinciding with a special installation titled

League has played an important role in the city’s history, and we salute all that they have done and continue to do to empower Afri can Americans in our community.”

This year marks the centennial

“The New York Urban League at 100” on exhibit now through May of the New York Urban League, a local affiliate of the National Urban

Open to the public, the sold-out

program featured the stories of the 106th Mayor of New York City Da vid N. Dinkins and Queens Public Library President & CEO Dennis Walcott. A panel discussion was also held titled “The Importance of Storytelling to the Civil Rights Struggle Then and Now, ”where participants included Marc Mori al, National Urban League President, Arva Rice, President & CEO of New York Urban League, Wes

Mayor Bill DeBlasio

economic opportunity, and commu nity engagement.

The New-York Historical Soci ety program, Co-sponsored by Gale Brewer, Manhattan Borough Presi dent, was an opportunity for NYUL to reflect on the New York Urban League’s crucial work over the past century, and explore the stories of

Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer

League, whose mission is to en able African-Americans and other underserved ethnic communities to secure a first-class education,

Moore, CEO of Robin Hood, and NBC Anchor & Host David Ush eryas moderator. For over 100 years, the New York Urban League has led the way in the education, employment, and empowerment of under-served African Americans across the five boroughs of New York City. During this time, the organization has in spired, influenced, and ignited over one million Black people to achieve their highest aspirations. NYUL re mains a vital resource for the city’s African-Americans and other un derserved groups.The League helps to transform the lives of over 8,000 families each year by providing quality higher education options, those the League has personally impacted.

Storytelling is central to the African-American experience. It was forbidden in policy and prac tice for blacks to read or write. It wasn’t just illegal, but could be deadly for the slave, so they shared their stories. Slaves knew that tell ing stories was the only way they could bear witness to what they’d been through. Stories were used to interpret the universe, resolve natu ral and physical phenomena, teach morals, maintain cultural values, pass on methods of survival, and to praise God. So it is fitting that this evening as an iconic Civil Rights organization launches their yearlong celebration, that they begin by storytelling.On February 20, two of the 100 stories featured former New York City Mayor David Dinkins and Queens Public Library President & CEO Dennis Walcott. During 2020, NYUL will present 100 stories re counting its 100-year history and its future promise through print, broad cast, and social media.

“By presenting ‘New York Ur ban League: 100 Stories of Black New York,’ our hope was that the audience would understand the power and promise of storytelling, and why this medium was selected for the NYUL Centennial,” said Arva Rice, President & CEO of the New York Urban League. “And to get people excited about 100 stories and hearing the next 98,” she added. “We were honored to host the New York Urban League at the New-York Historical Soci ety as they premiered the first of their ‘100 Stories of Black New York’,” said Dr. Louise Mirrer, president and CEO of New-York Historical. “The New York Urban economic self-reliance, and equal respect of their Civil Rights through programs, services, and advocacy. Among the objects on display in this special installation is a school desk from DeWitt Clinton High School and images depicting the NYUL Football Classic and the Whitney M. Young Scholars. Through events like the Football Classic, the Annu al Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) College Fair, and the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Empowerment Days, NYUL has helped challenge New Yorkers to find humanity, connect and help each other, and gain access to equal opportunity. Event panelist and Moderator - Marc Morial, President and CEO National Urban League, Arva Rice, President and CEO, New York Urban League, David Ushery, Anchor, NBC4 New York, and Wes Moore, President Robin Hood

NY Historical Society Display NYUL Staff - L to R - Jasmine Uribe, Kenneth Johnson, Diana Coleman, Arva Rice, Lisa Boyd, Jan Fennel, Shalima McCants, Tammi Butler, Yvonne Smother, Uthman Olowa New York Urban League Past and Present Presidents L to R - Dennis Walcott, Arva Rice, Harriet Michel, Darwin Davis NYUL Board - Bryant Fields, Shalima McCants, Arva Rice, Maja Hazell and Ward Corbett